Champion Italian golfer Matteo Manessero returns to competition this week high in the Swiss Alps confident of a clear head after the frustration of recent months.
Manaessero has not teed up in a tournament in a nearly a month since his lowly finish in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
The 20-year Verona-born golfer has failed to rekindle the form that saw him capture the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and then finish fourth a week later in the Nordea Masters.
Matteo Manassero returns to golf after a three week break and seen here hitting out of a bunker in practice on the 18th hole at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Manassero then missed the cut in both the US Open and British Open and with his best finish since the Sweden being 22nd in the French Open.
“I just needed a good rest after Oak Hill as I wasn’t playing that well and I was really worn out at the PGA and even before that,” he said.
“I was getting very frustrated by not playing well and my head was in a different place. I just felt a bit burnt out and very tired and was desperate to get away from the game.
“I spent a couple of days in New York after the PGA and also went to the Caribbean but for much of the time I’ve just been resting, and it was only in the last six days I’ve started working hard again on my game trying to put things together.”
Manassero returns to competition in Thursday’s starting Omega European Masters at Crans Montana in Switzerland ranked 31st in the world and fifth behind Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, and new Deutsche Bank champion, on the Race to Dubai money list.
The Swiss event is the first of three events in succession for Manassero including next week’s KLM Open and the Italian Open a week later in Turin.
He then will represent Europe in the October 6th starting Seve Trophy compete in Portugal a week later ahead of the closing four ‘Final Series’ events in China, Turkey and Dubai
“It is such a big stretch from now to the end of the season for me with the big goal for me to win again and maybe have a chance at winning the Race to Dubai,” he said.
“I am a fair way behind Henrik but given the amount of prize money, particularly near the end of the year, everyone’s position can change.
“But if I can have another big win then that will help but you have to be fresh in your mind if you are to stay focused all the time on your game.
“After winning Wentworth I want to try and win again this year because that has never happened in my career before.
“So after this long break I’ve had I’ve come here to Switzerland feeling fresher in my mind and my body and looking forward to the remainder of the year.
“Also, the Ryder Cup qualifying started last week and I would like to get myself off to a good start before the WGC and Majors start next year.”
